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Congress

Congress. CH. 10. Congress is bicameral. HOUSE OF REPS # of reps per state depends on population as counted every 10 years in the National Census and then reapportioned . 435 Reps in total 2 year terms (but no limit on # of terms) Elected by district. SENATE 2 Senators per state

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Congress

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  1. Congress CH. 10

  2. Congress is bicameral. HOUSE OF REPS # of reps per state depends on population as counted every 10 years in the National Census and then reapportioned. 435 Reps in total 2 year terms (but no limit on # of terms) Elected by district SENATE 2 Senators per state 100 Senators in total 6 year terms (but no limit on # of terms) Elected by entire state CONGRESS = National Legislature

  3. SENATE • At least 35 yrs. Old • Citizens for 9+ years • More prestige • More Media Coverage • Our Senators: • Each state has 2 senators, no matter size • Some represent very few; some represent a great many HOUSE OF REPS • At least 25 yrs. old • Citizens for 7+ years • Less Prestige • Less Media Coverage • OUR Representatives: • State with MOST Reps: • State with LEAST Reps: • Rep = 650,000 citizens

  4. GERRYMANDERING State legislatures draw boundaries of districts but, since 1964, gerrymandering has been illegal.

  5. Members of congress (house or senate) really have several jobs: • Legislator: make laws • Committee Member: • Screen bills to see if House/Senate should discuss • Check to see if the executive is properly enforcing laws (Oversight Function) • Constituent Representative: • Represent/vote as “folk back home” would • Constituent Servant: • Do favors for constituents • Politician: • Stay in touch with party leaders & fellow candidates

  6. Members of congress tend to view themselves as either: Trustee: OR Delegate: Vote based on views of “folks back home” OR Use own judgment, regardless of voter opinion Partisan: Vote along party lines OR Polico: Balance of all three of the above

  7. TERMS • Term = length of time that officials serve after an election, as in a two- or six-year term • Start (per 20th Amendment) at “noon of the 3d day of January” of every odd-numbered year.

  8. Congressional elections Every two years, all Representatives and 1/3 of Senate are up for election. The SENATE is a Continuous Body: The entire Senate is NOT up for election at any one time. Instead, 1/3 is up every two years, for a total 6 year term each.

  9. Sessions of Congress Session = regular period of time during which Congress conducts business. Congress adjourns,or suspends until the next session, each regular session as it sees fit. If necessary, the President has the power to prorogue, or adjourn, a session, but only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment. Only the President may call Congress into a special session—a meeting to deal with some emergency situation.

  10. Compensation • Senators/Representatives salary: $174,00 a year. • (Leaders are paid more) • The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage. • The Constitution says that Congress fixes its own “compensation.” Therefore, the only real limits to congressional pay are the President’s veto and fear of voter backlash against a pay increase.

  11. Membership Privileges • Can’t be arrested for noncriminal offenses from their official conduct. • Can’t be sued for libel or slander arising from their official conduct.

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